Releasable ski binding

ABSTRACT

A releasable ski-boot binding in which the portion of the binding that holds the sole of the ski-boot and the portion of the binding that holds the toe of the ski-boot are both pivotable and will simultaneously release the boot from torsional forces.

United States Patent 1191 Perryman Oct. ,9, 1973 [54] RELEASABLE SKI BINDING 3,514,118 5/1970 Baccheschi 280/ 11.35 T

[76] Inventor John S. Perryman, 17 S. Point Tr., FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS K ne 1,271,671 8/1961 France 2s0/11.35 Y 1,349,971 12/1963 France 280/1l.35 T [22] 1972 543,150 7/1954 Italy 280/11.35 T [211 App]. No.: 235,249 452,417 5/1968 Switzerland 280 11.35 T

Primary Examiner-Kenneth H. Betts :Jflfil Assistant Examiner Mflton L Smith A N P t l. [58] Field 61 Search 280/l1.35 Y, 11.35 K, tomey pper e a .3 280/1135 T 1135 R 11113553 11135512; [57] ABSTRACT v A releasable ski-boot binding in which the portion of [56] References Cited the hinding that hol is the .sole of the ski-boot and the UNITED STATES PATENTS port1on of the bl ndmg that ho111s the toe of the sk1- 2094 667 W937 P h 280M135 K boot are both plvotable and W111 slmultaneously reans f t f 2,573,955 11/1951 Cubberley 280/11.35 T lease the boot ors'onal 2,858,137 10/1958 Marker 280 11.35 T 7 Claims, 5 Drawmg Figures 3,199,884 8/1965 280/11.35 Y

Voster et al.

PATENIEDBET 9m 3.764.155 Y SHEET BUY 2 RELEASABLE SKI BINDING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to bindings for releasably attaching ski-boots to skis, and particularly to ski-bindings releasably responding to excessive torsional forces exerted upon the skier.

2. Prior Art Numerous ski-boot bindings have been devised to represent a compromise between (a) immediate release under excessive torsional forces (as in twisting falls) and (b) retaining the skis under all the stress normal to skiing. The ideal of instant release under accident conditions is more closely approached by the present invention, while yet securing the skis firmly to the ski-boots for all normal skiing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This result is attained by providing a double mounting for each ski-boot: a sole plate to hold the middle and back of the ski-boot; the sole plate is normally engaged with a toe clamp. Excessive torsional'moments release both the sole plate and the toe clamp to pivot laterally and yield to that moment (or torque) to release the ski-boot before damage to bodily structure occurs. Excessive forward or upward force releases the toe clamp to pivot vertically and yield to that force to release the ski boot.

DRAWINGS These objects and advantages as well as other objects and advantages may be attained by the device shown by way of illustration in the drawings in which:

FIG..1 is a perspective view of a releasable ski-boot binding with the two parts thereof interlocked;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof with the two parts thereof pivoted into disengaged relation as in a torsional release;

FIG. 3 is a partially sectioned top plan view taken on the line 3-3 in FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; v I

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned side elevational view taken on the line 4-4 in FIG. 3' looking in the direction of the arrows; the dotted lines show the toe clamp raised to release position; and

FIG. 5 is a partial vertical section of the sole plate and disc.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail, a ski 11 is provided with an elongaged sole-plate 12. The soleplate 12 is positioned on top of the'ski 11 where the skiboot is to be secured. An inverted frusto-conical passage in the plate 12 receives an inverted frust'o-conical disc 13, which is secured to the ski 11 by screws 14. The fit of the disc 13' with the sole-plate is sufficiently loose to enable the sole-plate to rotate freely.

The rearward end of the sole-plate' l2 has a plurality of opposite side holes 15 into which opposing complementary U-shaped members 16 are inserted. The upper ends 17 are reversely threaded and are engaged by internal reverse threaded passages in a bar 18. By rotating the bar 18, the threads on the upper ends 17 engage the threads in the passages in the bar- 18, to tighten the U-shaped member 16 in the holes 15, thereby to define a stop for the back of the heel of a ski-boot.

In addition to holding the ski-boot at the back, the sideward movement of the ski-boot is controlled by the locators l9, l9. Transverse front and back serratededge slots 20 are cut across the top of the sole plate 12. L-shaped, serrated-edge locators are seated in the slots and held against transverse movement by the interengagement of their serrations, and are locked in place by screws 22. A front tooth 23 on the sole plate 12 will .hold it against rotation as will hereafter be described.

The sole plate 12 and its assembly show how the back and sides of the ski-boot are releasably secured. It now remains to detail the releasable restraint for the toe of the ski-boot. For this purpose, a base plate 30 is rigidly secured to the ski II, in spaced relation to the pivotable sole plate 12. A post 31 isrigidly mounted on the base plate 30 and provided with a vertical cleft. A turret 32 is rotatably mounted on the post 31 and is provided with a notch 33 which normally engages the tooth 23 and keeps the sole plate 12 normal to the ski 11. The turret 32 resists rotation because of a ball 34 which is seated in the cleft of the post 31 held by a plug 35 .in the rotatable turret 32. The plug 35 is adjustable by the screw 40 to exert varying degrees of pressure on the ball 34. Thus, when torsional force is exerted by the skiers boot on the sole plate tending to the post 31, it may become sufficient to drive the ball 34 from the cleft into the plug 35 for the turret 32 will turn; then the notch 33 will release the tooth 23, and the skiers foot is no longer held rigidly coaxially with the ski 11, Le, the boot is released.

In addition to torsional release, as above described,

provision is made for the forward and upward release I of the ski-boot in the absence of torsion by releasing the toe of the ski-boot. The turret 32 mounts a bifurcated yoke 45 defining a ski-boot toe clamp. The yoke 45 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 13. A ball 37 engages the yoke with the shaft 13 and normally maintains the yoke 45 in a down position; as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 4.

Excessive force exerted by the toe (as in an accidental tumble); tends to raise the yoke 45. The ball 37, acting as a shear restraint between the yoke 45 and the shaft 8 is then forced into the plug 38', releasing the yoke 45 for pivoting to the up position, shown by the dotted line in FIG.'4. The toe of the boot is then free to move forward, releasing the heel as well as the toe.

To raise the yoke 45 for entry or withdrawal of the ski-boot, as in putting on or taking off the skis, the end of the yoke 45 is manually rotated; the cam shaft 36, which rotates with the end of the yoke 45, drives the rod 41 against the ball 37, which pushes it into the plug 38. This releases the yoke 45 for pivoting to the up position shown by the dotted line in FIG. 4. The boot may then be inserted or withdrawn. After inserting the boot, the end of the yoke 45 is manually returned to the horizontal position, where the ball 37 is returned to its normal position by the compressive force of the plug 38.

When initially adjusting boots to the binding, the locators l9'are first set for the proper widths for the'front and back of the ski-boot. The yoke 45 is pivoted to firmly hold the toe of the ski-boot. The compensator pads 39 are adjusted to equalize the grip'of the yoke 45 on the toe of the ski-boot. The bar 18 is adjusted by rotation until proper tension is attained to hold the heel of the ski-boot. The plugs 35 and 38 are adjusted to render the release point of the binding sufficiently tight. The screws hereinafter referred to accomplish this purpose. Judgment must be exercised in setting the plugs 35, 38 to give the proper release in response to excess torsional force, and yet hold the skis bound for all proper ski maneuvers. Tightening the plugs will create greater resistance to release.

The rotation of the turret 32 in a horizontal plane is governed by the ball 34, which is normally positioned to block rotation of the turret 32 on the post 31. Overloading the turret 32 by the force of a skiing disaster, exerts sheer force on the ball 34 at the point where it is engaged by the post 31. This compressive force drives the ball 34 into the plug 35 thereby permitting horizontal rotation of the turret 32. The engagement of the ball 34 and the ball 37 with the respective plugs 35 and 38 is controllable by the screws 40 which may be adjusted to cause the plugs 35 and 38 to exert different degrees of compression upon the balls 34 and 37. Thus, the screws 40 may cause the plugs 35 and 38 to be loose and imcompressed and only lightly engage the balls, whereupon only slight sheer force exerted upon the balls 34 and 37 will drive them to enter the plugs 35 and 38, accomplishing a release'of a ski-boot, as would be necessary for a young light-weight person using the ski binding. On the other hand, by tightening the screws 40, the plugs may be caused to compress the plugs 35, 38 to great density until they offer very strong resistance to the balls 34 and 37 as would be necessary for use by a heavy person using the ski binding, or by a person pursuing a strenuous athletic skiing activity. In this way, the ski bindings acquire universal adaptivity to all types of skiers and all types of skiing activity.

The plugs 35, 38 are made of a firm yet compressible rubber or synthetic rubber.

The plugs or wads 35, 38 when compressed by the screws 40, may be rendered more or less yieldable to the balls 34, 37. The cam shaft 36 acts through the cam follower or rod 41 to drive the ball 37 into the plug 38. The yoke 45 acts in concert with the surface of the shaft 13 to drive the ball 37 into the plug 38. Likewise the post 31 acts in concert with the surface of the turret 32 to drive the ball 34 into the plug 35.

The position of the axis of rotation of the disc 13 is in close proximity to the rear of the sole plate 12. This brings the axis of rotation of the sole plate 12 substantially into coaxiality with the longitudinal axis of the tibia of the skier.

The releasable binding for a ski-boot accomplishes numerous objects: Release of the toe of the boot simultaneously releases the heel of the boot from the bar 18. Downward linear forces do not accomplish release. Any twisting force on the leg beyond normal drives the ball 37 into the wad 35, 35 permitting rotation of the sole plate 32. The tooth 23 forces the notch 33, to drive up ball 34 into the plug 35, releasing the yoke 45, completely freeing the sole plate 12 for rotation. Any excess pressure on the yoke 45, either forward, sideward or upward causes pivoting and release. Attachment of the ski-boot is merely lowering the yoke 45. The binding is adjustable to various length and width ski-boots.

Rotational release and upward release are adjustable.

Racers may select firmer adjustments to resist side force chatter yet remain yieldable to dangerous overload.

Weight of the ski-boot is well distributed on the binding.

Primary straps may be fitted to the binding.

I claim:

l. A releasable binding for a ski-boot comprising:

a. a sole plate,

b. means to rotatably attach the sole plate to the ski,

c. means to position the heel ofa ski-boot on the sole plate,

d. means to position the sides ofa ski-boot on the sole plate, e. a tooth on the front end of the sole plate,

f. a turret,

g. means to rotatably attach the turret to a ski in spaced relation to the sole plate,

h. a notch in the turret engagable and disengagable with the tooth of the sole plate,

i. a pivotable yoke attached to the turret defining a toe holder for a ski-boot,

j. adjustable cam means attached to the yoke normally resisting vertical pivoting of the yoke to release the toe of the ski-boot,

k. adjustable cam means attached to the turret normally resisting horizontal pivoting of the turret to release the sole plate.

2. A releasable binding for a ski-boot comrising:

a. The device according to claim 1 in which the pivotable yoke attached to the turret defining a toe holder includes,

b. a rotatable cam shaft pivotally mounted on the yoke,

c. a lever attached to said rotatable cam shaft,

d. a vertical cam follower mounted in said yoke and engaged with the cam shaft,

e. a socket in the turret for receiving the cam follower, and

f. a compressed wad in the socket, yieldable to the cam follower when driven by the cam shaft.

3. A releasable binding for a ski-boot comprising:

a. the device according to claim 2, and

b. a threaded plug engaged with a thread in the socket whereby the wad may be compressed to offer varying degrees of resistance to the vertical cam follower.

4. A releasable binding for askioot comprising:

a. the device according to claim 1 in which the means to rotatably attach the turret to a ski in spaced relation to a sale plate includes,

b. a vertical post, I

c. the turret being rotatably mounted on the post,

d. a cleft in the vertical post defining a cam,

e. a horizontal cam follower movably mounted in a socket in the turret and movably seated in the cleft,

f. a surface of the turret adjacent to the cleft exerting sheer force on the horizontal cam follower,

g. a compressible wad in the socket yieldable to the cam follower when it is driven by the cam.

5. A releasable binding for a ski-boot comrising:

a. the device according to claim 4 and b. a threaded plug engaged with a thread in the socket opposite to the horizontal cam follower, whereby the wad may be compressed to offer varying degrees of resistance to the horizontal cam follower.

6. A releasable binding for a ski-boot comprising:

a. the device according to claim 1, and

b. the means to rotatably attach the sole plate to the ski positioned in close proximity to the rear of the sole plate, with the axis of rotation substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the tibia of the skier.

7. A releasable binding for a ski-boot comprising:

a. a ski,

b. a sole plate positioned on the ski,

c. an inverted frusto conical passage in the sole plate,

d. an inverted frusto conical disc positioned in the passage and rotatably attaching the sole plate to the ski,

e. a heel seat for a ski-boot attached to the rear of the sole plate,

f. transverse serrated edge, from and back slots in the top of the sole plate,

g. L-shaped members having serrated edges attached in the slots and defining means to position the outer sides of the heel and the sole of a ski-boot on the sole plate,

h. a rotatable turret mounted on the ski, i.'a notch in the rotatable turret,

j. a tooth on the sole plate engagable with the notch whereby to maintain thesole plate coaxial with the ski,

k. adjustable tension means to release the turret for rotation in response to torsional force exerted on the'sole plate,

I. pivotable yoke on the turret engagable with the toe of a ski-boot on the sole plate,

m. adjustable tension means to release the yoke in response to forward and/or vertical forcesexerted upon the yoke,

n. means to manually rlease the pivotable yoke. 

1. A releasable binding for a ski-boot comprising: a. a sole plate, b. means to rotatably attach the sole plate to the ski, c. means to position the heel of a ski-boot on the sole plate, d. means to position the sides of a ski-boot on the sole plate, e. a tooth on the front end of the sole plate, f. a turret, g. means to rotatably attach the turret to a ski in spaced relation to the sole plate, h. a notch in the turret engagable and disengagable with the tooth of the sole plate, i. a pivotable yoke attached to the turret defining a toe holder for a ski-boot, j. adjustable cam means attached to the yoke normally resisting vertical pivoting of the yoke to release the toe of the skiboot, k. adjustable cam means attached to the turret normally resisting horizontal pivoting of the turret to release the sole plate.
 2. A releasable binding for a Ski-boot comrising: a. The device according to claim 1 in which the pivotable yoke attached to the turret defining a toe holder includes, b. a rotatable cam shaft pivotally mounted on the yoke, c. a lever attached to said rotatable cam shaft, d. a vertical cam follower mounted in said yoke and engaged with the cam shaft, e. a socket in the turret for receiving the cam follower, and f. a compressed wad in the socket, yieldable to the cam follower when driven by the cam shaft.
 3. A releasable binding for a ski-boot comprising: a. the device according to claim 2, and b. a threaded plug engaged with a thread in the socket whereby the wad may be compressed to offer varying degrees of resistance to the vertical cam follower.
 4. A releasable binding for a ski-boot comprising: a. the device according to claim 1 in which the means to rotatably attach the turret to a ski in spaced relation to a sale plate includes, b. a vertical post, c. the turret being rotatably mounted on the post, d. a cleft in the vertical post defining a cam, e. a horizontal cam follower movably mounted in a socket in the turret and movably seated in the cleft, f. a surface of the turret adjacent to the cleft exerting sheer force on the horizontal cam follower, g. a compressible wad in the socket yieldable to the cam follower when it is driven by the cam.
 5. A releasable binding for a ski-boot comprising: a. the device according to claim 4 and b. a threaded plug engaged with a thread in the socket opposite to the horizontal cam follower, whereby the wad may be compressed to offer varying degrees of resistance to the horizontal cam follower.
 6. A releasable binding for a ski-boot comprising: a. the device according to claim 1, and b. the means to rotatably attach the sole plate to the ski positioned in close proximity to the rear of the sole plate, with the axis of rotation substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the tibia of the skier.
 7. A releasable binding for a ski-boot comprising: a. a ski, b. a sole plate positioned on the ski, c. an inverted frusto conical passage in the sole plate, d. an inverted frusto conical disc positioned in the passage and rotatably attaching the sole plate to the ski, e. a heel seat for a ski-boot attached to the rear of the sole plate, f. transverse serrated edge, front and back slots in the top of the sole plate, g. L-shaped members having serrated edges attached in the slots and defining means to position the outer sides of the heel and the sole of a ski-boot on the sole plate, h. a rotatable turret mounted on the ski, i. a notch in the rotatable turret, j. a tooth on the sole plate engagable with the notch whereby to maintain the sole plate coaxial with the ski, k. adjustable tension means to release the turret for rotation in response to torsional force exerted on the sole plate, l. pivotable yoke on the turret engagable with the toe of a ski-boot on the sole plate, m. adjustable tension means to release the yoke in response to forward and/or vertical forces exerted upon the yoke, n. means to manually release the pivotable yoke. 